The Ultimate Skill System: Absorb, Upgrade, Create, Transfer-Chapter 43 - : Create and Upgrade

Keiran sat on a flat stone, its surface smooth and cool beneath him, worn down by years of wind and rain. The stone was nestled in a small clearing, surrounded by towering trees whose branches swayed gently in the breeze.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting a mosaic of light and shadow on the forest floor.

The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, and the occasional chirp of a bird or rustle of leaves broke the stillness. It was a quiet, serene place, far enough from the village to feel isolated but close enough to hear the faint hum of life in the distance.

The village was a lively place, even from afar. Keiran could hear the faint echoes of laughter, the clatter of tools, and the occasional shout of someone calling out to a friend.

It was a comforting sound, a reminder that he wasn't alone in this world. But for now, he preferred the solitude of the forest, where he could think clearly and focus on his next steps.

He closed his eyes, letting the sounds of nature wash over him as he accessed his skill list. A faint glow surrounded him, and a series of words and symbols appeared in his mind, like a holographic display only he could see.

The list was long, filled with abilities he had acquired over time, some through effort, others through chance.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

[COMMON: Iron Fist, Enduring Spirit, Mud Spit, Stone Skin, Rapid Hop, Predator's Rush, Venomous Bite, Ghost Cloak, Gleam Burst, Sunflare Dash, Luminous Scales, Magma Spit, Ember Glide, Heat Scales, (80).]

[UNCOMMON: Elastic Fluid Body, Hellflare Dive, Eternal Blaze, King of the Wilds, Wraithbound Reflexes, Carver's Grasp, Infernal Arcana, Lava Surge, Molten Blood, Oathbound Dominion, (8).]

Keiran's brow furrowed as he scanned the list. Some of these skills had served him well, while others felt redundant or unnecessary. He knew he needed to refine his abilities, to focus on what was truly useful and discard the rest. It was a delicate balance, one that required careful thought and planning.

With a deep breath, he activated Arcane Creation. The air around him shimmered, and a series of glowing runes and ancient tomes materialized, floating in a slow, deliberate orbit around him.

The runes pulsed with energy, their intricate designs shifting and changing as Keiran focused his mind. He needed something new, something that could support his allies while weakening his enemies. The process was intense, his concentration unwavering as the runes began to merge and transform.

Finally, the glow subsided, and a new skill appeared in his list.

[Congratulations! You have created an uncommon skill.]

[Divine Grace (Active.): A wave of sacred light radiates from the user, washing over the battlefield. Allies within the light are healed and blessed with divine protection, enhancing their defenses and filling them with holy vigor to sharpen their reflexes. Enemies touched by the light are scorched by its purity, suffering damage and a temporary weakening of their strength and focus. The user is bathed in divine energy, receiving a blessing that amplifies their magical power and fills them with renewed resolve. Mana Cost 5.]

Keiran smiled faintly. This was exactly what he had been aiming for—a skill that could turn the tide of battle in his favor. But he wasn't done yet. He still had other skills that needed improvement.

He activated Sacred Elevation, a process that allowed him to upgrade his existing skills by sacrificing others.

It was a delicate balance, one that required careful consideration. Keiran decided to focus on upgrading four common skills: Iron Fist, Enduring Spirit, Ghost Cloak, and Predator's Rush. To do this, he would have to sacrifice several others, including Mud Spit, Stone Skin, Rapid Hop, Venomous Bite, Gleam Burst, Sunflare Dash, Luminous Scales, Magma Spit, Ember Glide, Heat Scales and (30) others.

He also chose to upgrade Oathbound Dominion, a skill he had created himself. For this, he sacrificed Lava Surge, Molten Blood, Carver's Grasp, Hellflare Dive, Wraithbound Reflexes and (5) others.

The process began, and Keiran felt a surge of energy as the skills merged and transformed. It was a strange sensation, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. The upgrades were quick, and the results were immediate.

[Congratulations! You have upgraded 5 skills.]

[Uncommon.]

[Titan Knuckle (Active): A refined martial technique that maximizes the power and precision of each punch. Through expert control of body mechanics and concentrated force, the user's fists deliver significantly increased damage. Strikes can fracture bone, disrupt balance, and cause intense pain, making even armored opponents feel the impact through their defenses. Enhanced effectiveness against soft targets and weak points. Mana Cost 5.]

[Unyielding Resolve (Passive): Fueled by unwavering determination, the user can endure significantly more pain, exhaustion, and physical stress than the average person. This resilience allows them to push their body beyond normal limits, enabling them to fight longer and remain standing even under intense strain, making them harder to break both physically and mentally.]

[Spectral Shroud (Active): The Aethermantis vanishes into a higher plane, becoming completely invisible and undetectable for a short duration. While in this state, it leaves no trace—neither sound nor scent—making it impossible for enemies to perceive its presence through conventional means. The effect only ends when the duration expires or the Aethermantis chooses to attack. Mana Cost 5.]

[Feral Ambush (Active): The White Wolf dashes toward an enemy, closing the distance instantly. If the attack lands, the next two basic attacks deal increased damage and apply a brief slow. If the White Wolf is in stealth or dashes from a bush, the first enhanced attack also stuns the target for a short duration. Mana Cost 5.]

[Rare.]

[Sovereign's Edict (Active): Empowers the user to forge unbreakable magical pacts of allegiance, binding willing subordinates under a sacred decree. Sworn followers receive a significant boost to their physical and magical abilities, with enhancements scaling based on their devotion. Their latent potential is further unlocked, moderately reducing the difficulty of advancing their Rarity tier. The user, in turn, gains a proportional increase in power based on the total number and strength of their subordinates. Should a subordinate betray the oath, they suffer severe backlash, drastically reducing their combat effectiveness for a set duration. Mana Cost 10.]

[You leveled up.]

[You have received 12 Stat points.]

[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]

Keiran nodded. His little experiment had given him a clear result. His suspicions were correct.

Absorbing and upgrading skills was useful, but it had limitations. The upgraded absorbed skills were nowhere near as powerful as the ones he created himself. Even when he enhanced them, they lacked the flexibility and raw strength of his own skills. He couldn't even customize them the way he wanted. The system dictated their growth, forcing them into a predetermined form.

That was a problem.

Customization was everything. A skill that couldn't be altered to fit his fighting style was nothing more than dead weight. It might be strong, but it wouldn't be efficient. Every ability needed to be sharpened, adjusted, and refined like a weapon in a blacksmith's hands. If he couldn't do that, then those skills were flawed.

But that didn't mean upgrading them was a complete waste.

Even if they weren't as powerful, they had their uses. The real value of these skills wasn't in their direct application—it was in what they could provide. They could serve as fodder, raw material to strengthen his own creations.

Keiran understood the hierarchy now. His created skills would always take priority. They were the foundation of his power, the true core of his strength. Every other skill, whether absorbed or upgraded, was secondary. But secondary didn't mean useless. If a skill had utility, he would keep it. If it had potential, he would test it. And if it was worthless? It would be devoured.

Trial and error. That was the key.

After a moment of thought, he assigned 2 points each to Constitution, Dexterity, and Agility, and 3 points each to Intelligence and Strength.

•••••

NAME: Keiran Graywood

CLASS: Hero

SUBCLASS: Skillmancer

LEVEL: 122

HP: 3,920

MP: 5,872

SP: 5,872

[STATS]

CONSTITUTION: 245

INTELLIGENCE: 367

STRENGTH: 367

DEXTERITY: 245

AGILITY: 245

AVAILABLE STAT POINTS: 0

[SKILLS]

DIVINE BLESSINGS: Divine Inheritance, Sacred Elevation, Arcane Creation, Blessing of Bequeathal.

COMMON: (30).

UNCOMMON: Elastic Fluid Body, Eternal Blaze, King of the Wilds, Infernal Arcana, Divine Grace, Titan Knuckle, Unyielding Resolve, Spectral Shroud, Feral Ambush, (3).

RARE: Colossal Frenzy, Titan's Resilience, Abyssal Execution, Sovereign of the Unseen, Howling Tempest, Windborne Regeneration, Eclipse Shatter, Umbral Sovereignty, Solarfang Overdrive, Crown of the Dawn, Arcane Nexus, Pyroclastic Roar, Magma Core, Sovereign's Edict.

SUPER RARE: Cataclysmic Eruption, Volcanic Soul.

•••••